Enberg to Do NBA Play-by-Play

Dick Enberg, long associated with college basketball and the NFL, will be one of NBC’s two NBA play-by-play announcers, the network said today.

Enberg replaces Bob Costas, who will co-host “NBA Showtime,” NBC’s pregame show along with former Lakers Coach Pat Riley.

“After the McDonald’s Open in Barcelona, where Bob hosted the pregame with Pat, Bob came to me and Terry (O’Neil, the executive producer for NBC Sports) on the plane ride home and volunteered to give up his co-No. 1 play-by-play role in order to work alongside Pat Riley in the studio,” NBC Sports President Dick Ebersol said in a statement released by the network. “That opened the door for us to ask Dick Enberg, the best overall play-by-play man in the business, to join our NBA family.”

NBC’s original NBA announcing lineup had Costas and Marv Albert as the play-by-play announcers, equally splitting the regular season and playoff games, and annually alternating on the All-Star Game and NBA Finals. Riley, who had served as the Lakers color commentator before going into coaching in 1979, was to be the sole pregame show host.

Enberg will call the 41st NBA All-Star Game (Sunday, Feb. 10, 1991) and the Western Conference Finals. Next season, Enberg’s post-season assignments will include the NBA Finals as well as the play-offs, while Albert will work the All-Star Game and play-offs.

“On the flight home from Spain, I realized this whole thing was a jigsaw puzzle and that this was the way things would fit together best, with me in the studio and Dick and Marv, with their great basketball experience and reputations, calling the games,” Costas said.

Albert will be the announcer Saturday as NBC opens it regular season NBA coverage with a game between the Lakers and San Antonio Spurs. NBC is entering the first year of a four-year contract with the NBA. CBS had broadcast NBA games for the last 17 seasons.

In a separate announcement, Enberg was also named as the play-by-play announcer for NBC’s Notre Dame football telecasts, which will begin in 1991. Enberg will continue as NBC’s No. 1 NFL play-by-play announcer.